Thermostatic controlled device



Nov. 29, 1955 F, DROW THERMOSTATIC CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed July 5, 1 951 INVENTOR.

DONALD E DROW ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,724,972 THERMOSTATIC CONTROLLED DEVICE Donald Frederick Drow, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application July 5, 1951', Serial No. 235,225

8 Claims. (Cl. 74-2) standpoint of durability and from the standpoint of op erability. They have failed to hold up for any appreciable length of time, partly due to the hightemperatures to which they have been subjected and partly'due to their normal wearing resulting from friction between the elements comprising the device. This wearing has led to non-uniform, inaccurate and unreliable operations. This is particularly true in the latch type of safety control means wherein the" control means is latched in its open or operating position by means of a thermostatically operated latch means; The rubbing of the latch means on the cooperating means on the control at the elevated temperatures has resulted in the deforming of the cooperating elements to the extent that their adjustment is not maintained for a satisfactory length of time. i

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a control device that will overcome the above-mentioned difiiculties with prior art devices of a similar type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control device wherein temperature responsive guide means is provided to cooperate with a temperature responsive latch means to hold a control element of the device in its operating position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined guide and latch mechanism that is temprature responsive and adapted to assure proper operation of the latch portion thereof in its association with a control means A still further object of the invention is to provide a latching mechanism formed of a'sin'gle sheet'of bimetal into a configuration wherein a guide portion thereof'cooperates with a latch portion thereof to perform a holding function.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a latch type of safety valve wherein temperature responsive means is provided for guiding and for urging the valve actuating means toward and away from engagement with the latchingmechanism.

Still further objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the control valve with portions thereof in cross section and other portions thereof broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the combined latch and guide v temperature sensing element in its blank form; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the temperature sensing unit of the control device, taken along 3'3 of Figure 1.

2,724,972 Patented Nov. 29, 1955 ice 2 erally designated by the reference numeral 10. It comprises an inlet 11 that is externally threaded to receive a nut 12 of conventional coupling sleeve 13. An outlet 14 of the valve body is internally threaded to receive a valve 18. The outer end of the plunger 22 has a manually operable knob 23 secured thereto by means of a bolt 24. A cap 25, which encircles the plunger 22 and knob 23, protects them against damaging blows by being screw threaded onto an externally threaded projection 26 on the plug 21.

Connected at its inner end to the disc valve 18 and ex tending through the valve passage and an opening in the upper side of the valve body for a substantial distance from said body, is a rod 27. The rod is surrounded by and spaced from a sleeve 28 that is threaded into the valve body it at its inner end and into a bototm end portion 29 of a cylinder 30 at its outer end. The sleeve 28, end portion 29' and cup-shaped cylinder portion 30, being screw threaded together, withthe inner end of the sleeve 28 threaded into the valve body 10, forms a gas tight enclosure for the stem 27, which loosely extends therethrcugh from the valve disc 13.

Theupper end of the member 29 has an annular groove 31 therein that receives a coiled bimetal strip 32 having upwardly extending arms 33 and 34. The upper end of the Referring now to the drawing, the valve body is gen-- arm 33 has a bore therethrough of larger diameter than the diameter of the stem 27 and is transversely bent so that the stem 27 passes through said bore 35. The upper end of the arm 34 is likewise bent transversely toward the stem '27 on the opopsite side thereof from the arm 33. The bimetalstrip 32 is retained in the groove 31 by staking or bending the upper portion of the member 29 over the upper edge of the strip 32.

A burner tube 36 has its inner end screw threaded into'the body portion 10 and gas is conducted thereto through passages (not shown) from the upstream side of the partition 16 or from a separate connection to the supply line. a burner orifice 37, that is adapted to direct a flame onto the cylinder 30, and an orifice 38, that is adapted to direct a flame over a main burner (not shown) for igniting the gas delivered to said main burner when the valve 18 is oil of seat 17.

Operation The elements of the safety valve are in the positions burner, the valve 18 will be retained in its open position.

However, should the flame at the orifice 37 become extinguished, the cylinder 39 will cool off causing the bimetal arms 33 and 34 in turn to cool and move away from stem 27. By the, opposite side of the aperture 35 hearing against the stem 27, due to the outward movement of the arm 33, it will be assured that thelaterally extending latching end of the arm 34 will clear the stem 27, to release the valve, instead of having said stem 27 tend to deflect laterally along with the arm 34. .In this .way, it is possible to avoid the use of closely j fitting guidemeans for holding the stem 27 coaxial with The upper end of the burner tube 36 has arena-ea 3. respect to the sleeve 28. Likewise, with the arms 33 and 34 in their heated condition, the arm 33' will prevent the stem 27 from slipping out from under the arm.3,4, and, particularly, whensaid outer. end and arm. have, become rounded. through wean.

Obviously,to place the valve .lsintooperating or open position. following a closure thereof, it is. necessaryv to. remove the cap 25 and pull outwardly upon the. knob 23 to open the valve 18 against. the bias, of spring 19. Then, if a flame is present at 37, the arm 34 will move. into latching position across the end of the stem 27.

Asother embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to. be understood that the scope of the inventionis to bedetermiuedsolely from; the appended claims.

I. claim as my invention:

1. A safety device comprising a. housing, a control member normally biased to an. inoperating position, manually operablev means extending through a wall of said housing and into engagement with said control member for moving said control member to an operating position, abutment means extending outwardly from said housing and engaging said control member for movement; therewith between operating and inoperatingpositions of said control member and being free to move laterally a slight distance, and a bimetal temperature re-. sponsive. latch means having a guide portion and a latch portion, said latch portion being operable at a first temperature to be out of engagement with said abutment means. to permit said control member to move. to its inoperating position and at a second temperature to be. in engagement with said abutment means to hold. said control member in. its operating position, said guide means being operable to urge said abutment means towards and away from said latch portion at said. second and first temperatures, respectively.

2. Asafety device comprising a body, a control member normally biased to an inoperating position, man:- ually operable means extending through a wall of said body. and into engagement with said control member for moving said control member to an operating pos i-. tion, abutment means extending. outwardly from said body and engaging said control member for movement therewith between said operating and inoperating; positions and being free tomovelaterally a slightdistance, and temperatureresponsive latch means having a.guide portion and a latch. portion, said latch portion. being operable at a first. temperature to be out of engagement; with said abutment means to permit saidcontrol member to move tosaid-inoperating position and at a second.

temperature, to be in engagement with. said abutment.

means to hold said control member in its operating. position, said guide means having an aperture: therein through which said abutment means extends and being operable to urge said abutment means towards and away from. said latch portion, at said second and first temperatures, respectively.

3: Ina safety device, the combinationv comprising a' body, a control member normally biased to. an inoper ating position, manually operable means extending through a wall of said body and into engagement with said control member for moving said controlmember to operatingposition, abutment means extending outwardly from said body andengaging said control member for movement therewithbetween operating and inoperating positions and being free to move laterally a slight distance, and conditionresponsive means having a guide portion and a holding portion, said holding portion being. operable at a first. condition to be out of engagement withsaid be. inengagement with .said abutment .means. .to, hold-said control. member in-its open, position, said guide means;

having :an aperture therein through which saidzabntrnent means extends andibeingoperable-to urge. saidiabutment:

means towards andaway from said holding portion at said second and first conditions, respectively.

4. A safety control comprising a body, a control member normally biased to an inoperating position, means extending through a wall of said body and into engagement with said control for moving said control to an operating position, abutment means-extending outwardly from said body and: engaging, said. control:v member for. movement therewith between said operating and inoperating positions and being free to movelaterally a-, slight distance; and condition responsive: meanshaving a guide portion and a holding portion, said holding portion being operable at a: first condition. tolbe, out. ofi engagement with said abutment means to permit said control member to move to said inoperating positionand'at a second condition to be in engagement with said abutment means to hold said control member in its open position, said guide means being operable. to urge. said; abutment means;to-

wards vandaway from said .holdingportion-at said second and first-conditions, respectively.

5. In.a..contr.ol device, the combination comprising a control means, an. actuating member for said control means for moving it between first and second positions andhaving; slight'lateral movement, andbimetallic temperatureresponsive meansfor-holdingsaid member and:

control meansin said second position whena predetermined temperature exists and for releasing said member; andcontrol means ;for.movemen t tosaid first position when a different temperature exists, said temperature responsive. meansghaving; a latch. portion for engaging 6. In a control device, thecombination comprising.

control. means, an actuatingmember for said control means. for moving itbetween first and second positionsand having slight lateral movement, said control means being: biased; toward said first position, andcondition responsive means forv holding said member and control means in said; second position. when a predetermined conditionexists and .for releasing; said member and control means for movement to said firstposition when saidconditiomdoes not exist, said condition responsive means; having aholding portion for engaging and holding said member only when said condition exists and a guidepprtion for biasing said'member toward'said holding portion. when said conditionnexists and away from said holding portion when said condition does not exist.

7.. Acontrol device :comprisingcontrol means, an actuating; member forsaid control means for movingit betweemfirst and second positions and having slight lateral movement, meansfor biasing said control means toward said first. position, and condition responsive means located adjacent said member and movable into engagement therewith, for holding said member and control means in said second position. when a predetermined condition exists and-for releasing; said member and control means. for movement-to said first. position when said condition does not exist, said condition responsive means having a. guide portion. tor-biasingsaid. member toward said condition responsive -means=when said .condition exists and away fromsaid conditionresponsivemeans when said condition does not exist.

8.; A-control devicecomprising control means, an elongated actuating member for said control means for moving it between first and second positions along-.the longitudinal; axis of said actuatingmember, said member being free to move;.-laterally-sasslightdistance and condition. responsiyegmeans for holding said-member and. control meansinasaidasecondaposition when a-.-.predeterrnined condition exists and for releasing said member and control means for movement to. said" first; position when.- said condition does not exist, said condition responsive means having a holding portion movable laterally of said actuating member for engaging and holding said member only when said condition exists and a guide portion movable laterally of said actuating member for biasing said member toward said holding portion when said condition exists and away from said holding portion when said condition does not exist.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

